Mr Kirk welcomed everyone to the meeting and
gave a particular welcome to Sarah Dalrymple who was attending her
first meeting of the Local Licensing Forum. For her benefit Mr Kirk asked for a round of
introductions.

joint training session

Prior to the main business of the meeting
there was a joint Licensing Forum/Board training session on
Equalities delivered by Ms Simone Doyle, the Council’s
Equality and Diversity Officer.

Mr Wynne proposed that Mr Mark Hay be
appointed as Convener of the Local Licensing Forum. The proposal was seconded by Mr Tunnah and
unanimously agreed. Mr Hay took the
chair for the remainder of the meeting.

DECISION

AGREED that Mr
Mark Hay be appointed as Convener of the Local Licensing
Forum.

With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of
23 October 2018 there had been circulated copies of the finalised
Scottish Borders Licensing Board Statement of Licensing Policy
(November 2018 – November 2023) which had recently been
published. Licensing Standards Officer, Mr Tunnah, explained that,
following a 12 week extensive consultation on the draft Statement,
comments from individuals, licensees and organisations, including
the Local Licensing Forum and Alcohol Focus Scotland, had been
taken account by the Board in producing the final
version. In accordance with the
Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, this Statement would be in place
until its revision which would be required within 18 months of the
establishment of a new Licensing Board, which would effectively be
by November 2023. Mr Tunnah added that the Board could produce a
supplementary policy during the five year period if there were
changes in circumstances, but the same process, including full
consultation, would be required for its preparation.

DECISION

NOTED

4.

Alcohol Profile

Minutes:

In Ms Elliot’s absence, Mr Tunnah
explained that statistics were now being collated by Ms Elliot and
her team for the preparation of an updated Alcohol
Profile. The Profile was used as a
reference to assist the Licensing Board and to inform other
decision makers about the impact of alcohol consumption in the
community.

DECISION

NOTED

5.

Byelaws to Prohibit the Consumption of Alcohol in Designated Public Places - update

Minutes:

With reference to paragraph 7.3 of the Local
Licensing Forum Minute of 23 October 2018, Mr Kirk gave an update
on the current position regarding the proposal to introduce Byelaws
to Prohibit the Consumption of Alcohol in Designated Public
Places. He explained that a report had
been taken to Council in December 2018. As it had been over four
years since the Council last considered the matter, elected Members
decided that a new consultation process should be carried out to
consider the need for Byelaws in the Scottish Borders. This would be concluded within 12 months and a
further report be taken back to Council with the findings of the
consultation. The Forum would be
included as part of the consultation and therefore have an
important part to play. In the ensuing
discussion hopes were expressed that the apparent misunderstandings
about the purpose and effect of the byelaws could be countered by
improved communications within the consultation
process.

DECISION

NOTED

6.

Licensing Standards Officers - update

Minutes:

Mr Wynne gave an update and advised that there
had been no major problems reported over the recent period. He
advised that there had been a large number of applications to the
licensing authority for occasional licences. As part of the ‘don’t buy it
don’t supply it’ campaign, against under-age drinking,
banners had been displayed in supermarkets in Kelso, Hawick and
Galashiels. Safety Advisory Group (SAG)
processes had already begun in preparation for the Rugby 7s
season.

There had been circulated, for information,
copies of the Scottish Borders Licensing Board Minutes of 26
October 2018, 16 November 2018 and 14 December 2018. Mr Wynne highlighted those applications which he
suggested were of particular interest to the Forum.

DECISION

NOTED the
minutes.

8.

Private Business

Before proceeding
with the private business, the following motion should be
approved:-

“That under
Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the
public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of
business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of
exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 7A to the
aforementioned Act”.

Minutes:

AGREED under Section
50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the
public from the meeting during consideration of the business
detailed in the Appendix to this Minute on the grounds that it
involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in
Part I of Schedule 7A to the Act.

SUMMARY OF PRIVATE BUSINESS

9.

Minute

Private Minute of meeting of the Local
Licensing Forum of 23 October 2018 to be noted.

Minutes:

Members noted the private Minute of 23 October
2018.

10.

Police report

Minutes:

Due to particular circumstances there was no
Police Report on this occasion.